OCS Five-Year Program Background:

• In May 2007, the Department of the Interior (DOI) published the Proposed Final Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012 - which scheduled a total of 21 Lease Sales in eight different OCS planning areas (12 in the Gulf of Mexico, eight in Alaska and one in Virginia). Thus far, DOI has conducted seven lease sales – one in the Chukchi Sea (Alaska) and six in the Gulf of Mexico – pursuant to the 2007-2012 Five-Year Program.
• In July 2008, President George W. Bush modified the Executive Withdrawal that had been put in place by President George H.W. Bush which prohibited the federal government from conducting any leasing or pre-leasing activities in either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. During this period in 2008, President Bush instructed DOI to begin the process for developing a new Five-Year Program for 2010-2015 – which would take into account the fact that the Executive Withdrawal had been modified.
• In August 2008, DOI issued a Call for Information which sought public comments on what areas the government should consider holding Lease Sales in during the 2010-2015 timeframe.
• Over 152,000 comments were received – with over 86,000 supporting expanded access.
• In October 2008, Congress ended a funding moratorium on leasing and pre-leasing activities in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This moratorium had been in effect since 1983.
• In January 2009, DOI published a Draft Proposed Program (DPP) – a required step in developing a Five-Year Program – which included lease sales in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska; the public comment period was scheduled to be open through March 21, 2009.
• In February 2009, Interior Secretary Salazar announced that he was extending the comment period for the DPP by six months (until September 21, 2009) and would expand it to include the prospect of offshore alternative energy development.

Additional Facts:

• According to the Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, there are 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas located along our nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) – the equivalent of 35 years of imported oil from OPEC and an 18-year supply of natural gas.

• Every $1 increase in the price of natural gas costs the U.S. chemical industry $3.7 billion.